A whopping total of five black people were nominated for the 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in various acting categories.  Some of the names were a surprise like Don Cheadle for his role as Marty in Showtime’s House of Lies and Maya Rudolph for her funny skits on SNL. Some of the nominees we accurately predicted last year such as Giancarlo Esposito as Gus in Breaking Bad. The others were nominated for a second time in a row like British actor Idris Elba for his role in Luther and Loretta Devine for her Emmy-winning role in Grey’s Anatomy.

Hollywood starlet Kerry Washington who along with late night host Jimmy Kimmel announced the nominees this morning from the television academy’s Leonard H. Goldenson theatre.

THE NOMINEES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Don Cheadle, House of Lies

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad

OUTSTANDING ACTOR, MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Idris Elba, Luther

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS, DRAMA

Loretta Devine,Grey’s Anatomy

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS, COMEDY

Maya Rudolph, SNL

For the full list of nominations (including sound editing and makeup), visit the official Emmy site.

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